Hi,
I am working on an addition to a large existing building on a large parcel of land that the client owns. The masterplan for this site includes several future projects that could happen at different times. The client has asked that we design and construct the addition so that it could be LEED certified, but has not committed to certification yet.
As we have been working through the design, I've learned that there is a part of the client's campus, non-contiguous to the LEED project boundary our team had originally drawn, that they would like to re-grade and use for construction staging for several of their pending projects, including the addition I am working on. If one of the other efforts is executed first, this regrading may occur under the scope of that project. If the addition I am working on goes first, it may occur under the scope of our work, but I will not have the option of truly restoring it, as the client would like to keep it open for future construction staging.
Does it seem reasonable to not include this area in the LEED boundary? It seems to me that it falls under "land altered as a result of construction" if it happens under the scope of the project I'm working on, but it's only contiguous if we re-draw what I had considered a reasonable LEED boundary for our addition to include a lot of existing site (that we hadn't planned to alter) between this staging area and our project area. It also isn't going to exclusively serve our addition, so I have no control over what happens to it. I will suggest the client restore it when the other projects are complete, but I can't imagine that means anything to the USGBC.
Thanks for any advice or insight!
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
530 thumbs up
July 25, 2022 - 9:32 pm
If this non-contiguous area in question is used simply for construction staging (and is planned to be used for construction staging of future projects), then my opinion would be to exclude it from the LEED Project Boundary of this current LEED project.
If no credits are achieved due to this exclusion, then you should be ok.
local code might require ESC / SWPP measures be in place for the construction staging area.
provide a narrative with the LEED application to explain this to the LEED review team. If GBCI requires you to include it...simply revise the LPB on the site plan and revise the site area listed in the Project Information template in LEED Online. My guess is that they probably won't make you revise it as long as no credits are achieved by excluding it.
Hope this helps!
Kimberly Reddin
Director of SustainabilityFlad
July 28, 2022 - 9:08 am
Thank you! Including it could potentially impact some of our sustainable site credits as it increases the site area in some of our calculations, but at this point I think I will just assume it is not part of our project and let the client know that there is potential to lose points if we do end up needing to include it in our scope. I appreciate the insight!